Part 4 – Motherhood, Mental Health, and Moving Forward

From my blog series: “Still Standing: My Journey Through Darkness to Finding My Voice”

In 2020, I became a mother. It should have been the happiest time of my life — and in some ways, it was — but my mental health collapsed.

I remember one day sitting in the shower, sobbing uncontrollably, unable to stop. My boyfriend found me there. I couldn’t explain the weight pressing down on me.

My OBGYN prescribed medication, but instead of helping, it made things worse. We switched meds again and again, but every time I seemed to have another allergic reaction. Finally, they referred me to a doctor for a better understanding of the medications I needed.

A New Set of Labels

That’s when I learned something new — not about my allergies, but about my mental health. They told me “bipolar” wasn’t used the way it had been anymore.

I was re-diagnosed with:

• Borderline Personality Disorder

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Severe Anxiety

• Severe Depression

• ADHD

It wasn’t the first time I’d been labeled, but it was the first time I understood how much trauma had rewired my brain.

Growing a Family and a Future

By the end of 2024, life had changed again — I had two children I loved more than anything in this world. But I was also a stay-at-home mom, still struggling with feeling “broken” while trying to give my kids the best life possible.

I wanted to build something for them — and for myself.

That’s when I started Lizzy’s Listings, an online shop for everyone — from first responders to weirdos like me. It became a small corner of the internet where I could create, connect, and feel proud of what I’d built.

Where I Am Now

It’s 2025. My kids are my everything. I’m not “healed.” I’m not perfect. Some days, I still feel like I’m not enough.

But I get up every day and try anyway.

Because they deserve that. And so do I.

Series Conclusion: This was my story — the good, the bad, and the moments in between. If you’ve made it this far, thank you for listening. Maybe you’ve lived through something similar. Maybe you haven’t. But I hope you take away this — you can be broken and still build something beautiful.